Rome To Use Colosseum, Forum & Circus Maximus for 2024 Olympics

The Rome 2024 Bid is taking advantage of the city’s unique history and landmarks to become the host city of the world‘s biggest sporting event.

The master-plan presented today in the Eternal City lays out that the cycling, marathon, beach volleyball and archery games will take place on the backdrop of the city’s iconic ancient Roman sites such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Caracalla Baths, St. Peter’s and the Circus Maximus.

Rome last hosted the Olympics in 1960 and the hope is to recreate some of the magic from that “Dolce Vita” era and economy booming years.

The project was submitted this morning in the 1960’s Fencing Venue of Palazzo dei Congressi during a glitzy ceremony marked by a multimedia show and performances.

The three key centres would be the Foro Italico, made in the 1920s, and the 1960’s Olympic Stadium, built for the previous Games; the Rome Fair; and the south of Rome expanse of Tor Vergata, which would host the Olympic Village.

Numbers & Details

The bid panel has unveiled a package worth 5.3 billion euros and predicted the creation of 177,000 jobs over the 2017-2023 period. Organizers said only 30 per cent of facilities need to be built from scratch. They expect to raise 3.2 billion euros from ticket sales, merchandising, International Olympic Committee (IOC) subsidies and sponsors.

The “low cost” budget for the Rome games foresees spending 2.1 billion euros for permanent structures and 3.2 billion euros on temporary facilities, running costs and management. Not only the city’s historical strengths, then, but also its existing infrastructure should secure the 2024 games, the Rome bid backers argue. Most of the required sports facilities are up and running and would only need an upgrade, according to the organizing committee.

The Final Decision

The IOC will elect the host city on September 13, 2017 in Lima, Peru. It can pick up Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris or Rome. Budapest looks the weakest candidate of the four. Paris the strongest, as it hasn’t staged an Olympics since 1924 and could also be given the prize in consideration of last November’s shock. Los Angeles is a good contender but has already hosted the sporting event twice.

Rome 2020….

Rome could have easily hosted the 2020 Olympic Games if the Italian government hadn’t decided to withdraw the bid for budget concerns in early 2012 when the country was going through the worst stage of the eurozone financial crisis.